National builder plans hundreds of new homes in Sugar Land

Meritage Homes plans to build 335 homes in a growing master-planned community in Sugar Land.

The Scottsdale, Arizona-based homebuilder purchased 127 acres for an undisclosed price in Imperial Sugar Land, a master-planned community at Texas State Highways 6 and 90A. The acquisition represents about a third of the land being developed by Houston-based Johnson Development Corp.

A business park district was originally planned for the 127-are site, according toShay Shafie, the community's general manager. However, amid Houston's hot housing market, Johnson Development decided to place single-family housing on the land.

"We try to keep our finger on the market and adapt," Shafie said.

Johnson Development plans to develop the land for Meritage Homes by the end of 2015, Shafie said. Meritage plans to announce floor plans and prices for homes in early 2015, and begin construction in 2016.

The Meritage subdivision, which is yet to be named, joins two other growing neighborhoods in Imperial Sugar Land.

Darling Homes, based in Frisco, Texas, andPartners in Building LP, based in Houston, are building patio homes in the 30-acre Quiet Cove gated neighborhood.

In the 15-acre Silent Manor neighborhood across the lake, San Antonio-based Sitterle Homes is building Mediterranean-style homes, and Houston-based Trendmaker Homes is developing a row of two-story townhomes.

Just south of Silent Manor, Houston-based Gracepoint Homes is preparing to develop three-story brownstone homes. Across the street, Sueba USA Corp., based in Houston, is developing Imperial Ballpark Lofts, a 257-unit luxury apartment complex.

In addition to the residential components, Imperial Sugar Land has plans for a mixed-used district featuring hotels, office and retail space. The community is currently home to Constellation Field, a minor-league baseball arena, and a weekly Farmer's Market, and will be the future site of the Fort Bend Children's Discovery Center and the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation Museum.

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